The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-03-31
Literary News and Notes.

Mark Twain has an article entitled ''EngSh
| as She is Taught in the April Century. 1t
gives numerous examples of the remarkable
English sometimes found in school exercises,
with running comment by the humorist.
DIR. Edward Egylcston's papers on Religion
in the Colonies, for The Century. begin in the
April issue with description of church build
ing and the pcculiarities of service and old
| church customs. In both matter and illustra-
ton this series has been the result of painstak-
ing research.
The Lincoln History by MessrS. Nicolay and
Hay reaches a famous period of Lincon's career
with the April number-the campaign against
Irumbull, and the earlier Douglas Debates.
Border Rullani>n in Kansas, and the Topeka
and Lecompton Constitutions are also treated
of.
Essays by Andrew Wilson f. l.. s.. are
published in pamphlet form by }. Fitzgerald,
| postage free. The leading essay, ''Science ana
| Crime" shows what effective aids science is
| able to render to the legal Nemesis in tracking
| the criminal. The other essays bear the titles
| of ''Thc Earliest known Life Relic" ''Skatcs
and Rays" "About kangarooS." "Leayes,"
"GiantS, ''Thc Polity of Pond.'
| The April IIarper's is peculiarly strong in
fiction. Blackmore's "Springhaven" comes to
tragic end with the murder of Admiral Darl-
| ing and Twemlow, and the triumphant death
| of Lord Nelson at Trafalgar Barnard illus
| trates the two murder scenes. One of Alfred
Parsons drawings, representing the -omened
''Corpse-walk PITT where Dolly Darling tried
| to drown herself, is the frontispiece of the
number. The fourth part of Kathleen O'Mea-
| ra's Russian novel, ''Narka," develops Il per-
picking complication of imperialism, love, and
nihilism. Howels novel, april Hopes"
presents four chapters more of skilful delnea-
tion of Boston society life, with rich treat of
~ ia .haro ariy
Howcl's best work. X. NJ. johnson contrib
utes bright short story of Georgia life
quarter of Il century ago, entitled ''The Stub
| blefcld ContinsentS.' well illustrated by Kem-
''Back from the Frozen Pole,' is Il strange
romance savorng of the marvellous.
| Possibilities, by Rev. Thomas L.. Baily is a
| book written with a distinct purpose, and with
| 4 dircctness and Observation-Disclosures which
cannot but have effect. a lesson is more easily
| taught in story than in Il lecture, and the all-
thor has woven his moral so thoroughly into
| the web of his narrative as to carry it without
| fail into the hearts and minds of his readers.
| lie believes that there is no reason why study
at school or home should be regarded as bur-
| den. 1t ought to be source of rest and rec
reation. Ought not the wasted energies of the
| mind and body, he asks, to be revived and re-
newed by a pleasant study of the great world of
| nature as it lies outspread before us? To be Il
source of profit to the mind ought there not to
| be sprinkling at least of the agreeable in the
portion of mental food given! The story answers
| these questions, and shows how departure
| from the old conventional methods and an in
| fusion of common sense ideas into our cduca-
| tiOnal methods would be productive OF the
most beneficial results. Price $1.25 ID. Lothrop
| Co., Boston.
| A beautiful etching of Oliver Wendell Hol-
mes ornaments the April number of the At
| lantic Monthly. The story of Il diplomatic
mission to the South, undertaken with the tacit
| consent of Abraham Line oIn cone of the most
remarkable contributions to the literature of
| the war which have yet been given to the pub
| lic), is told by Edmund Kirke, and in it he
recOunts, for the first time the terms of peace
which Lincoln was willing to offer to the South.
Mr.. Whittier has Il poem entitled son the Big
| Horn," founded OH the incident of the appIi-
cation of one of the Indians, who killed GEN
eral Custer, for entrance to General Arm
| strong's Indian School at Hampton, Va. Other
| noticeable features are an amusing negro story,
Lazarus Martin, lie Culud Lieyer," by W.
W: Archer;. "via Crucis," letter written by
| a Roman official in Jerusalem at the time of
| the CrucitiXiOn, by Edward |. Stevenson; "a
Tory Parson" (ALather Byles, of Hollis Street
Church, Boston,; and last, but not least, DIR.
Oliver Wendell Holiness second installmeut of
sour Hundred Days in Europe" in which he
gives accounts of Mr.. Gladstone in the House
of Commons, visit to Windsor Castle, and
entertainments at Devonshre House, the For
eign Office, Lady Rothchild's, and many other
noted places. Mrs. Oliphants and Mr.. Al
drich's serial and +. Marion Crawford's ''Paul
Patoff' are as interesting as ever, and there are
some other excellent articles and good poetry.
Houghton, Mffn 4 Co., Boston.
The ''word contest" instituted by the n. Y,
Judge in behalf of the Grant Monument Fund
has just closed. and check for $1,000 has been
sent to the monument committee. The winners
of the prizes offered by Judge in this contest
are NJ. +. Lyle. Brooklyn, N. T., Miss II. A.
Andrews, New York, II. W. Wilson, Indiana,
Tarlton, Charleston, ILL.,, each of whom receive
800; DIR. A. E. Beach, Brooklyn. N. Y, Mrs.
A. X. Roesicke, Buffalo, N. Y, and Alfred A.
Post, Mattapan, Mass, who receive $40, $50
and $25 respectively. The Judge has started
purpose.